Radio Frequency components used in the Wi-Fi hotspot on the Fan Mile in Berlin

September saw the start of the pilot phase of a public gigabit Wi-Fi access point on the famous Fan Mile in Berlin, Germany. HUBER+SUHNER is providing Wi-Fi antennas and coaxial cables, thus playing its part in enabling users in the area to surf, chat and stream for free for 30 minutes.

WLAN in PostAuto buses

The Swiss passenger transportation company PostAuto not only transports people from A to B, but also provides them with mobile internet access. This service is free of charge for customers and is made possible by SENCITY Road special antennas manufactured by HUBER+SUHNER. They ensure the best possible contact between the vehicle and the mobile communication network.

Almost half of the Swiss population between 15 and 74 years possesses a smartphone. The number of iPads and other tablets is also increasing every day. The information society surfs almost everywhere – now also on board Swiss Postauto buses.

Buses with free internet access
For various reasons, internet access on public transport still cannot be taken for granted. PostAuto is the first Swiss public transport company to meet this need and offers its customers free WLAN access during their journey. The 'perceived journey time' is reduced by surfing the web, and the experience is improved for passengers as a result.
PostAuto commissioned system integrator WLAN-Partner to install the equipment. Around 1,000 antennas were installed in the buses by spring 2013. So-called SENCITY antennas manufactured by HUBER+SUHNER are mounted on the roofs of the vehicles, ensuring connection to the 3G network.

Customised solution for PostAuto
The standard SENCITY Road antenna has been available in the HUBER+SUHNER range for some time but was further developed and adapted for the requirements of PostAuto. The decision in favour of a HUBER+SUHNER product was made because the SENCITY antenna is already capable of working in the frequency range of the 4th mobile telephony generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) . This new transmission standard permits even faster surfing and will replace UMTS and GSM transmission in the near future. When LTE is introduced in Switzerland, it will therefore not be necessary to convert the buses.
Massimo Fortunato, Sales Switzerland, is impressed by the innovative power of PostAuto: 'The high level of customer orientation demonstrated by PostAuto is fascinating; the company is offering its customers new technologies and even more service. As a Swiss company, we are proud that our antenna solution is part of this high-profile project.

Additional information

PostAuto Schweiz AG
PostAuto Schweiz AG is the leading public transport bus company in Switzerland. With over 3,300 employees and more than 2,100 vehicles, PostAuto transports over 120 million passengers each year.